Describe something you were disappointed about.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What was it about?
When did it happen?
Why did it disappoint you?

46 unique answers with expert feedback

How did you cope with the disappointment of not getting the marks you wanted?

I tried to focus on other interests and hobbies to distract myself from the disappointment. I also spoke to friends and family for support, which helped me process my feelings and find new motivation.

What changes did you make in your study habits after that experience?

After my NEET exam, I realized I needed to change my study approach. I started using more effective study techniques, like active recall and spaced repetition, and I also sought help from tutors to better understand difficult subjects.

How has this experience influenced your current academic or career choices?

This experience taught me resilience and the importance of adaptability. I chose a field that aligns more with my interests and strengths, and I now approach my studies with a more positive mindset, focusing on what I enjoy.

Band 6-7

00:00

Yeah, I would like to share something that I was disappointed about, that was regarding my MCET exam. So I gave my MCET exam in 2013, the first attempt. So and I got a rank of 5000 something, 5000 plus, which is actually a good rank compared like 2 lakh people give that test. And so when I when I was about to go into the counseling, there was certain there was certain thing that the rank ranges and the seat allocation was done on caste basis. So that was something disappointed me because the lower caste people who got about 20,000 and 25,000 rank got a slot or a seat in that in a particular university or a college. But whereas, whereas me who got in a 5000 so on rank, due to my creamy layer caste, I wasn't being allotted to any medical college because we do have a cut off for every particular class. And then I got to know this at that point, reservations do disappoint people who were even married. So that was the time I got disappointed and later. And however, I gave my second attempt for that MCET exam. And even in that year in 2014, the same thing happened. The marriage like me who got 3000-4000 rank were not allotted the seat and the people who got 20,000 and 30,000 with a reservation have a seat, but this wasn't disappointing in my career. And the thing which made me to switch my career, I had a dreams of getting into a medicine and I want to become a doctor, but because of

Follow up questions

How did you cope with the disappointment after your MCET exam?

After my disappointment with the MCET exam results, I took some time to reflect on my goals. I spoke to mentors and friends who encouraged me to consider other career paths. This support helped me to stay motivated and eventually led me to explore different fields outside of medicine.

What alternative career paths did you consider after your experience?

After realizing that medicine might not be the right path for me due to the reservation system, I considered pursuing engineering and management. I researched various fields and found that I had a strong interest in technology and business, which ultimately led me to a fulfilling career.

Do you think the reservation system is fair? Why or why not?

I believe the reservation system has its pros and cons. While it aims to provide opportunities for underprivileged groups, it can sometimes overlook the merit of hard-working students. I think a balance is needed to ensure that everyone has a fair chance based on their efforts and abilities.

IELTS Cue Cards asked last week

Reported by Leap students who gave IELTS

Describe your favourite food at a traditional festival or a special event in your country

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

Pitampura Test Centre, New Delhi

Answer

I like to taste different types of cuisine. Here I would like to talk about my favorite dish at my traditional festival of Onam which is Sadya. Sadya is popular in my city. We are experimenting these cuisines on Onam festival day. Onam is a famous festival in my city. All family members get together in my home and we make a delicious Sadya. There are many ingredients includes that Sadya. Moreover, we make a big feast that day as well as we create a lot of memories together and we wear that day the traditional dress called Sari and men wear the Dhotis. That festival is really important to us because the whole day we are conducting different kinds of games at our homes and all the family members came together. It's a memorable day in my life. This is the festival. We are making the Sambar and Aviyal. These all the kinds of foods are making with the vegetables.

Talk about a toy you liked in your childhood

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 8

Sector 34 Test Centre, Chandigarh

Answer

The toy which I liked in my childhood was a panda doll, which makes me pleasant and makes me more blush. The pandas are the most beautiful creatures of the world, which looks gigantic and has pooshy cheeks and they are like stars in the clouds and they dream in me. Furthermore, these have been given by my father. My father is a very very beautiful artistic person, who makes me think of that. Every day you will face every difficulties and make you suffer and move forward. Pandas are always seen in Japanese countries. It is my lifelong dream to visit a Japanese country and click a photo with the original pandas, which makes sounds better.

Describe a time you were in a place where you didn't know the local language

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 6.5

Whitefield Test Center, Bengaluru

Answer

As India is a very large country full of diversity, so there are many places which have their own language and speak their native language. The place which I visited and I didn't know about their language was Leladakh, which is about 300 km away from my hometown and it is a very good place as it consists of different kind of trees, animals and have many scenic views and I visited over there last year in summers as it was the best time to visit because it has many, it was cold over there and we had summers in our area so it was the best time to visit over there and I went over there with my whole family.

Describe a time when your friend damaged something you owned

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7

Begumpet Test Centre, Hyderabad

Answer

When I was a kid, I had a little pencil box which had these four buttons which gave the pencil box an operative use. When you press the button, the box would open up. When you press the second button, a little part of it would slide out. Basically it was just a little electronical and a fun thing to have and I owned it when I was in 6th. One day after break, I was standing and talking there with one of my friends and another friend of mine was running through the hallway and accidentally she pushed my shoulder and my pencil box hit the ground and it broke into multiple pieces to the point that it was not functional anymore.

Describe a book you recently read

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

CBD Belapur Test Centre, Navi Mumbai

Answer

It Ends With Us is a book I read recently. It's by the author Colleen Hoare. It's mainly a story about two teenagers, Atlas and Lily, and how they just handle their life going through high school, adolescence, and just domestic violence at home. Both of them come from very, very different families. However, they have one common determining factor between them, which is domestic violence. The abuse that they've seen their moms go through is just insane, and they connect through that on a different level. They're actually in the same high school, but they never speak to each other until Atlas actually crashes into an empty house next to Lily's villa. When Atlas is homeless and he doesn't have anywhere to go, he just comes and breaks into the house next to Lily's, and Lily helps him with all the daily necessities like clothes and food, medicines and stuff. Furthermore, their friendship blossoms into love, but it doesn't really fructify as Atlas has to leave. This book really gave me a lot of knowledge about domestic abuse and how to deal with it.

Yes, I have faced other disappointments, such as not getting selected for certain competitions. Each time, I try to reflect on the experience and use it as motivation to improve and strive for better opportunities in the future.

Show all 46 answers

Cue 1:What was it about?

Clearly state the event or situation that caused your disappointment.
Provide some background information to help the listener understand the context.

Example

I was really disappointed when I found out that my favorite music concert was canceled. I had been looking forward to it for months, as it was a chance to see my favorite band live.

Cue 2:When did it happen?

Mention the date or time frame when the event occurred.
Describe any preparations you made leading up to the event.

Example

The concert was scheduled for last Saturday evening. I had already bought my ticket weeks in advance and even planned to go with my friends, which made the anticipation even more exciting.

Cue 3:Why did it disappoint you?

Explain your feelings about the cancellation and why it mattered to you.
Discuss any personal significance the event held for you.

Example

It disappointed me because I had been eagerly waiting for this concert as it was a rare opportunity to see my favorite band perform live. I felt let down not just because of the cancellation, but also because I had made plans with my friends, and we were all looking forward to the experience together.

Conclusion

Summarize your feelings about the disappointment.
Reflect on any lessons learned or how you coped with the situation.

Example

In conclusion, while I was very disappointed about the concert being canceled, I learned to appreciate the moments I have with friends, even if they don't go as planned. We ended up having a fun evening together at home, which turned out to be a memorable experience in its own way.

Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.

Tips to answer this Cue Card

1: Vague Descriptions

Using vague language can make your answer unclear. If you don't provide specific details about the disappointment, the examiner may find it hard to understand your experience.

Tip

Use specific examples and details to describe the situation clearly. Mention what happened and how it affected you.

2: Lack of Structure

A disorganized response can confuse the listener. If you jump between points without a clear order, it may be difficult for the examiner to follow your story.

Tip

Organize your answer by following the cues: start with what it was about, then when it happened, and finally why it disappointed you.

Overly Negative Tone

Focusing too much on negativity can make your answer less engaging. While disappointment is a valid emotion, it's important to balance it with some positive reflections.